GAINESVILLE, Ga. — The family of North Hall High School teacher and coach Jason Hughes is asking prosecutors to drop charges against the five teenagers involved in the incident that led to his death, saying Hughes would not have wanted their lives defined by the tragedy.
Hughes, 40, died late Friday night after he was struck by a pickup truck outside his home on North Gate Drive. Authorities say a group of teenagers had gone to the home around 11:40 p.m. and covered trees in toilet paper as part of a prank.
As the group attempted to leave in two vehicles, Hughes tripped and fell into the roadway and was struck by a pickup truck driven by one of the teens, according to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office. He was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center, where he later died.
The driver, 18-year-old Jayden Ryan Wallace, is charged with first-degree vehicular homicide and reckless driving. Wallace and the other students — Elijah Tate Owens, Aiden Hucks, Ana Katherine Luque and Ariana Cruz — are also each charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass and littering on private property.
‘Prevent another tragedy’
Hughes’ family said he was not trying to confront the teens that night. Instead, they say he had heard about the prank ahead of time and planned to surprise them.
“This is a terrible tragedy, and our family is determined to prevent a separate tragedy from occurring, ruining the lives of these students,” the family said. “This would be counter to Jason’s lifelong dedication of investing in the lives of these children.”
Hall County District Attorney Lee Darragh said Monday he was not prepared to comment on the case.
Hughes taught math at North Hall High School for eight years and coached golf, football and baseball. He and his wife, Laura, also a teacher at the school, joined the math department together in 2018.
A man of deep faith
Students and Hughes’ fellow teachers left a makeshift memorial of flowers piled along a section of fence outside the school.
Sean Pender, the school’s football coach, said that Hughes helped players with their academics and was a also a man of deep faith who led a weekly Bible study for other coaches.
“What made Jason so special was the way he did it,” Pender wrote in a social media post. “He never judged. He never forced anything on anyone. He simply loved people well. He met people where they were, lifted them up, and reminded them that they mattered.”
A GoFundMe campaign launched to support Hughes’ family has raised more than a quarter of a million dollars. Organizers say the funds will help with immediate expenses and create a college fund for Hughes’ two young sons.
The tragedy occurred one day after the Hall County School District warned students about destructive prom-season pranks sometimes associated with “Junior/Senior Wars,” urging them to consider the consequences of their actions.
AP News contributed to this report
